Automatic dynamic range adjustment in digital imaging

ABSTRACT

A method of performing non-linear transformation of a digital image for contrast modification. The original video input is compared to a linear transformation with gain and offset; and, the differential Δ multiplied by a factor m obtained from a look-up table and the product mΔ added to the original input to obtain the output video.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to digital imaging and particularly in devices employed for scanning, copying and printing in enterprise or office environments where the user can input a document either as a printed sheet or an electronically created document such as from a desktop computer into a multi-function device for effecting scanning, copying and printing as the case may be. Heretofore, the technique of dynamic range adjustment of the image has been performed for image compression and the purpose of background suppression; however, this can result in changing of the colors of the image in the case of a colored document thereby producing undesired shifts in the appearance of the image. The linear transformation employed for image compression and background suppression has utilized a gain change and an offset based upon a mapping of the pixel content distribution in the image. This technique has provided image compression and background suppression but as mentioned before, has not been altogether satisfactory when applied to color images.

Thus, it has been desired to provide a way or means of image compression and background suppression of digital imaging in any manner which can provide desired contrast changes and background suppression without distorting the colors or overall appearance of the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes and illustrates a technique of dynamic range adjustment in digital imaging which allows adjustment of the contrast in portions of the image without distortion of the color content of the image.

The method of the present disclosure maps the pixel count of the image against the luminance on a scale of 0 to 255 and performs a transform which includes a non-linear relationship between the input and the output for the region of pixels for which it is desired to alter the contrast or provide background suppression. If desired, a portion of the transform or pixels having a luminance within a selected band may be subjected to a linear transform with the remaining pixel content utilizing a transform which employs a correction factor obtained from a look-up table of the curve values and an adjustment factor computed with respect to the difference between the original input and the linear transform using the correction factor obtained from the look-up table.

In the present practice, the look-up table of the values of the graph utilizes a non-linear curve of a selected shape in the regions to be modified; although, a correction factor may be applied from the look-up table for the entire range of pixel luminance if it is desired to completely alter the appearance of the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary histogram of the distribution of pixel luminance for a digital image to be modified;

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of a linear transform with no correction, with a gain and offset and with the transformation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the values to be employed for the correction factor;

FIG. 4 is a block flow diagram of the operation of the system for performing the image modification in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the procedure for determining the adjustment factor;

FIG. 6 is a print of an exemplary image in its original form; and

FIG. 7 is a print of the image of FIG. 6 after transformation in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the pixel count of an exemplary image is plotted in a histogram of the luminance of the pixels on a scale of 0 to 255. The region of the black point is chosen as pixels having a luminance of less than 25; and, the white point is chosen as pixels having a luminance of less than 210.

Referring to FIG. 2, the direct linear transformation is shown graphically as a plot having a slope of 45 degrees or output equal to the input is shown in dashed line; and, a linear transformation in the region of pixel luminance of 25-210 is shown in solid line indicating the offset and the change in gain or slope and is identified as V_(g/o). An exemplary transformation in accordance with the present disclosure is indicated in dashed and dotted line which is curvilinear outside of a linear region denoted by the vertical lines in FIG. 2 and identified by the m factor legend and will hereinafter be described in greater detail.

Referring to FIG. 5, the procedure for computing the adjustment factor is indicated in block diagram generally at 10 wherein the input video V_(INPUT) is along line 12 and is inputted to block 14 along line 13 for the computation of the V_(g/o) as follows.

V _(g/o)=(V_(INPUT)−black point)*255(white point−black point)

V_(g/o) is inputted along line 16 along with the input along line 18 to the block 20 where the differential Δ is computed as follows.

Δ=V _(g/o) −V _(INPUT)

The differential Δ is then inputted along line 22 to block 24 where the system determines the m factor from a look-up table of the selected type of transformation values and Δ is then multiplied by the factor m. An exemplary graphical representation of a plot of a look-up table of values is shown in FIG. 3 where the m factor is employed for pixel values less than 65 and greater than 187.

An adjustment factor determined by the operation of block 24 comprising m×Δ is then added to the value of V_(INPUT) at block 26 to provide the output V_(OUT). Thus, the transformation in the region outside of the linear portion is performed in accordance with the procedure described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 5 and produces the transformation shown in dashed and dotted line in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, a block flow diagram of the operation of the system is indicated generally at 50 where the user inputs the document at step 52 and the system proceeds to step 54 and scans the document to generate a digital image at step 54. The digital image is then rasterized at step 56 and the pixel count is mapped against pixel value in the range between the image black point and the image white point at step 58. The system then proceeds to step 60 and a desired transformation is implemented for the pixel values over the mapped range.

An exemplary transformation is illustrated in FIG. 3, where values of the m factor are plotted as a function of V_(INPUT) corresponding to pixel luminance values.

The system then proceeds to step 62 to make a determination as to whether the selected transformation is linear; and, if the determination is affirmative, the system proceeds to step 64 and selects a portion of the transformed range to be maintained linear. However, if the determination at step 62 is negative, the system proceeds to step 66 to select a non-linear transformation from a look-up table and the attendant m factor is determined as described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 3 and 5. The system then proceeds at step 68 to modify the image contrast over the mapped range based on the selected non-linear transformation.

Where the transformation is to include a linear portion, the system proceeds from step 64 to step 70 to select a non-linear transformation from a look-up table for values outside of the linear range. This is the determination of the m factor as exemplified in FIG. 3. The system then proceeds to step 72 and performs a selected non-linear transformation for the values outside the selected linear portion and at step 74 the image contrast is modified based upon the non-linear transformation of step 72.

An example of an image which has not been modified is shown in FIG. 6; and, an image which has been modified in accordance step 74 based upon the transformation of FIG. 3, is illustrated in FIG. 7.

The present disclosure thus describes and illustrates modification of a digital image for image compression and contrast adjustment without distorting the color of the image.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1. a method of controlling contrast in digital printing comprising: (a) scanning the document to be copied and printed and generating a digital image thereof; (b) rasterizing the digital image and mapping the pixel count and values on a scale between the black point and the white point range of pixel values for the image; (c) performing a linear transformation of the mapped values over said range; and, (d) selecting a portion of said range and modifying the transformation outside said portion and altering the image contrast.
 2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of altering includes modifying the linear transformation by addition of an adjustment factor obtained from a look-up table for values of the pixels and a correction factor.
 3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein said step of altering includes computing the difference (delta) between the output obtained from the linear transformation and the input value.
 4. The value defined in claim 2, wherein the adjustment factor includes the product of delta and the correction factor.
 5. A method of controlling contrast in digital document copying and printing comprising: (a) scanning the document to be copied and printed and generating a digital image thereof; (b) rasterizing the digital image and mapping the pixel count and values on a scale between the black point and white point range of pixel values for the image; (c) performing a transformation of the mapped pixel values over the range; and, (d) modifying the image contrast based upon the transformation of the mapped pixel values.
 6. The method defined in claim 5, wherein the step of performing a transformation includes a linear transformation for a portion of the range of pixel values for the image.
 7. The method defined in claim 5, wherein the step of performing a transformation includes an adjustment factor obtained from a look-up table of the factor and pixel values.
 8. The method defined in claim 5, wherein the step of performing a transformation includes an adjustment factor obtained from a curvilinear function over at least a portion of the range of pixel values of the image.
 9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the step of performing a transformation includes a continuous curvilinear function.
 10. A method of digital reproduction of documents comprising: (a) scanning the document to be reproduced and generating a digital image thereof; (b) rasterizing the digital image and mapping the pixel count and values on a scale between the black point and white point range of pixel values for the image; (c) performing a transformation of the mapped pixel values over the range; and, (d) modifying the image contrast based upon the transformation of the mapped pixel values.
 11. The method defined in claim 10, further comprising displaying the image with the modified contrast on a screen.
 12. The method defined in claim 10, further comprising printing the image with the modified contrast on a print media sheet.
 13. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the step of performing a transformation includes obtaining a correction factor from a look-up table of values of the factor and pixel values.
 14. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the step of mapping pixel values includes mapping values of pixel luminance. 